Nanuet Chamber aims to forge sense of community

NANUET – Joseph Brunelli doesn't own a business in Nanuet, but he does live in the hamlet and is full of pride for the community.

"Nanuet's an up-and-coming place 100 percent," Brunelli said.

He is among the members of the Greater Nanuet Chamber of Commerce who hope to spread that message to others.

The organization, which officially formed in September 2012, will host its very first street fair Sunday to promote not only local businesses, but a sense of community.

Just a few years ago, Brunelli said, the hamlet was telling a different story.

The Great Recession took its toll on Nanuet, just like a lot of other downtowns.

The owners of the Nanuet Mall, Simon Properties, seemed to have abandoned Rockland's very first mall as new competition just down the street in West Nyack, the Palisades Center, thrived.

But as the economy has slowly improved and Simon Properties recommitted itself to the area with the new Shops at Nanuet, the area has improved, Brunelli said.

Risa Hoag, the chamber's president and the owner of GMG Public Relations, said it became evident to her when Simon spoke about rebuilding that local businesses could benefit because the company would be spending thousands of dollars to rebuild and to advertise to draw visitors.

She said she urged local businesses to spruce up their storefronts and really put their best foot forward in anticipation of benefiting from the changes that were on the way.

Hoag grew up in the hamlet and said there is a tradition of grown children buying their older parents' homes and then raising their own families in Nanuet.

So, too, she said, there is great pride in the school district.

But providing activities to allow community gatherings would benefit the hamlet since it doesn't have an organized government or town square.

"We don't want to just be the Shops at Nanuet," Hoag said. "Our job is to create something to rally around. We want to be a community."

Brunelli said he came up with the idea for a street fair about a year ago to bring people together.

He said the response has been gratifying: While only 100 vendors were expected, more than 150 have signed up.

Brunelli, who works for Morgan Stanley in Pearl River, a member of the chamber, recalled growing up in New York City and attending block parties and other community events that brought people together.

He hopes Nanuet's street fair will do the same. His wife grew up in the hamlet.

"Bring a friend and have a great time," Brunelli said.

The fair will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. along Main Street, also known as Middletown Road, between Stop&Shop and Prospect Street.

The road will be closed between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. for the fair.

Various parking areas have been designated and organizers say those attending should not park at Normandy Village or the Shops at Nanuet.

Visit the chamber's website, nanuetchamber.com, for details about parking, vendors and special activities, including rides and entertainment.